Patient transporting and lifting device



June 24, 1969 H. A. DANIELSON,

PATIENT TRANSPORTING AND LIFTING DEVICE Sheet Filed Jan. 16, 1967 FIG.3

INVENTOR. H4192 Y A. JAN/4.90

BY .EZQMQ Arrae/vA-Y United States Patent 3,451,070 PATIENT TRANSPORTING AND LIFTING DEVICE Harry A. Danielson, 2021 N. Central, Phoenix, Ariz. 85004 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 402,397, Oct. 8, 1964. This application Jan. 16, 1967, Ser. No.

Int. Cl. A61g 7/10 US. Cl. 83 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A movable apparatus on which a patient may be supported in a substantially prone, horizontal position for transportation from a bed to a predetermined location and thereafter being adapted to be used in either raising or lowering the patient, as well as moving the patient horizontally, all without the necessity of changing the patients initial supported position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION I The present application is a continuation-in-part of an application entitled Patent Handling Device filed by applicant on Oct. 8, 1964, under Ser. No. 402,397, which will issue as Patent No. 3,298,042 on Jan. 17, 1967.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention comprises a movable patient handling apparatus that is particularly adapted for use in moving a patient from a bed in a horizontally supported position thereon with a complete sense of security, and thereafter employed to transport the patient to a desired location where, without further movement of the patient on the apparatus permits the patient to be raised or lowered, or moved horizontally, as is usually necessary when X-rays are taken. Such versatility of movement of a patient is particularly useful in so locating the patient as to permit X-rays'to be taken of one or more portions of his anatomy. After such X-rays are taken, the apparatus may be used to return the patient to a position where he can be transferred therefrom to his bed with a minimum of discomfort and inconvenience.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR .ART

In hospitals, sanitariums, homes for the elderly, and the like, one of the most diflicult daily problems encountered is thatof the handling or moving of patients in order to remove them from a'bed to a conveyance without frightening the patient, or subjecting him to any appreciable discomfort or overtiring. Also, this type of handling is often necessary even in bathing some patients.

While equipment of the character described in a variety of structural forms have been devised and marketed in the past, which accomplish certain of the operations mentioned above, the principal disadvantage of such previously available equipment is that usually they are adapted for but a single specific purpose. In addition, such prior equipment was heavy, bulky, cumbersome, difficult to operate, and so expensive to manufacture asto prohibit use thereof in only those situations where the need was urgent and no alternative presented itself.

The present invention is' an improved portable apparatus that may be used for both transporting and lifting a patient, is of relatively simple mechanical structure, requires little maintenance attention, is easy to operate, and can be fabricated from readily available commercial materials. Due to the structural simplicity thereof, the present invention may be retailed at a substantially 3,451,070 Patented June 24, 1969 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a movable lift apparatus somewhat similar to a fork lift that is adapted to removably engage parallel end pieces of a rectangular sheetsupporting frame. This frame, with the patient resting thereon can be raised relative to the bed from which the patient has been removed, or lowered to replace him on the bed, as well as transport the patient to a desired location where he can be moved vertically and horizontally. The apparatus is power-operated insofar as raising and lowering is concerned, and substantially eliminates the hazard of personal injury to a nurse or attendant in handling a heavy patient.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the patient transporting and lifting device;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, transverse cross-sectional view of the device, taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device, taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, transverse cross-sectional view of the device, taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings for the general arrangement of the patient transporting and lifting device, it will be seen to embody a fork lift type of vehicle A. Vehicle A includes two horizontal, L- shaped base members '10, the adjoining ends of which are rigidly affixed to an upwardly extending housing 12. The members 10 (FIGURE 1) are movably supported on a number of casters 14.

A conventional hydraulic jack assembly 13 is mounted within the interior of housing 12, and includes a cylinder 13a. The jack assembly is actuated by reciprocal movement of a member 16 that projects outwardly through a lingitudinally extending slot '17 formed in housing 12, all as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The jack assembly 13 also includes a ram 18 which projects upwardly from housing 12. Downward movement of the ram 18 is controlled by counter clockwise movement of a pivotally supported lever 20 forming a part of the jack assembly 13. A horizontal support member 22 of semicircular transverse cross section is mounted on the upper end of the ram 18. The support member 22 engages the midportion of an elongate rigid member 24, best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, and is secured thereto by screws 25. Two parallel arms 26 extend outwardly in the same direction from the ends of member 24.

The upper ends of two tubular rigid sleeves 28 (FIG- URE 1) are rigidly secured by welding, or the like, to the member 24. Sleeves 28 are spaced equidistant on opposite sides of housing 12. Two rigid members 30 extend upwardly from the base members 10, and are in vertical alignment 'With sleeves 28 to permit telescopic movement of the sleeves and members. One of the members 30 is shown in'cross section in FIGURE 6, .and each of these members is provided With cylindrical guide ring 32 secured to the upper portion thereof by a screw 34, or other suitable means. Guide ring 32 is formed from an anti-friction material such as a suitable polymerized resin, or the like.

A second guide ring 36 is connected to the lower interior of each sleeve 28 and slidably engages the exterior surface of the member 30 with which it is associated. Guide 36 is formed of an anti-friction material such as a suitable polymerized resin, and is held in place in sleeve 28 by one or more screws 38, as may be seen in FIGURE 6. The polymerized resin used in fabricating the guide rings 32 and 36 may be polyethylone, or a like material. Rings 32 and 36 prevent any binding of the ram 18, member 24 and arms 26 as they move upwardly and downwardly relative to the housing -12.

A rectangular frame B is provided, as best seen in FIGURES l, 3 and 4, including two identical parallel end pieces 40 of inverted transverse U-shaped cross section. The configuration of end pieces 40 is such as to permit slidable support thereof on the arms 26. End pieces 40 are connected by forwardly and rearwardly disposed ends, have transverse cross pieces 46 affixed to the lower portions thereof. Cross pieces 40 act as stops to limit the forward movement of frame B on arms 26 when they contact the heads of bolts 48. The bolts 48 are mounted on the forward under portions of the arms 26, as shown in FIGURE 5.

A transfer sheet C is provided that is of the same general structure as the sheet described in copending application, Ser. No. 402,397. A number of tabs 50 extend outwardly from sheet C, and these tabs can be projected through openings 52 formed in a number of spaced tab supports secured to the side pieces 42 and 44 of frame B, as well as the end pieces 40 thereof. A pivotally supported lever 56 is situated within the confines of each tab support, and teeth 58 are formed on the lower edge portion of each lever. A tab 50 may be moved outwardly through one of the openings 52 and supports 54, but cannot be moved in the opposite direction, due to engagement of teeth 58 and the tab, and the tendency of the engaged teeth to pivot the lever 56 in a clockwise direction (FIGURE 3). Each tab 50 can be removed from one of the supports 54 by manually engaging one of the levers 56 and pivoting it in a counter clockwise direction out of engagement with the tab. Thereafter, the tab 50 may be withdrawn from the support 54 with which it is associated.

The use of the patient transporting device described is relatively simple. In removeing a patient from a bed (not shown), the patient is rolled onto his side, and the sheet C is then laid on the bed in a position to permit the patient to be rolled back thereon. With the patient prone on sheet C, the vehicle A is moved adjacent to the bed, and the frame B lowered to a position where the patient is lying within the confines thereof. The tabs 50 are then attached to the supports 54, and the member 16 reciprocated to move the ram 18 upwardly, together with the member 24, arms 26, frame B and sheet on which the patient (not shown) is supported. The patient may then be moved to a desired location on vehicle A.

Upon arrival at the destination, and in the event it is necessary to move the patient forwardly relative to the arms 26, a slight transversely directed force is exerted on the frame B. The frame 'B is then moved forwardly relative to the arms 26 to a position where the patient can be X-rayed, or other treatment performed. Thereafter, the frame B is moved rearwardly on the arms 26 6 until the side piece 44 is located adjacent the member 24.

It will be particularly noted that the bolts 48 serve as stops to prevent inadvertent displacement of frame B and sheet C from the arms 26 on which they are slidably and adjustably supported. The cross pieces 46 also serve to prevent tilting of frame B relative to arms 26 or inadvertent displacement therefrom. The operation described above is simply reversed when it is desired to return the patient to the bed from which he had been taken.

I claim:

1. A patient transporting and lifting device, comprismg:

(a) a hydraulic jack assembly that includes a cylinder, a vertically movable ram in said cylinder, means for raising said ram relative to said cylinder, and means for lowering said ram relative to said cylinder;

(b) a base which movably supports said jack assembly in a substantially vertical position;

(c) an elongate horizontal rigid member mounted at substantially its mid-point on the upper end of said ram;

((1) two telescopic guide assemblies disposed on opposite sides of said jack assembly and extending between said base and member for preventing binding of said ram in said cylinder as said rigid member is raised and lowered while supporting an unevenly distributed load, with each of said assemblies including,

(1) a rigid vertical member affixed to said base,

(2) a first anti-friction guide ring mounted on the upper external portion of said vertical member,

(3) a vertical sleeve depending from said horizontal member and slidably engaging said first ring, and

(4) a second anti-friction guide ring mounted on the lower interior of said sleeve which slidably engages said vertical member;

(e) two horizontal arms extending outwardly in the same direction from the ends of said member;

(f) a rectangular frame defined by pairs of end pieces, which end pieces slidably support said frame on said arms;

(g) a transfer sheet;

(h) means for removably supporting said transfer sheet within confines of said frame; and

(i) stop means for preventing said frame from becoming disengaged from said arms.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said end pieces of said frame are of inverted U-shaped transverse cross section and said stop means includes:

(0) two protuberances that extend downwardly from the outer ends of said arms; and

(p) two transverse cross pieces mounted on the inner ends of said side pieces that contact said protuberances when said frame is moved outwardly a predetermined distance on said arms, which cross pieces serve to prevent inadvertent displacement of said frame from said arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,099,020 7/ 1963 Garifield et al. 581 3,259,922 7/ 1966 Fischer 5-86 3,298,042 1/ 1967 Danielsson 5-81 X 3,304,116 2/1967 Stryker 58 1 CASIMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 5-86 

